Section 60 powers authorised in Tunstall

We’ll be using Section 60 powers in the Tunstall area until 11pm tonight (Wednesday 29 October). 

It follows recent disorder in the area where a hammer was located inside a vehicle and information over potential violence. 

The order allows us to stop and search people we suspect may be involved in violence or weapon offences, without the need to have reasonable grounds. The order applies to the following area as outlined in the map:

A Section 60 authorisation means that we can stop and search people for weapons and in this case a s60AA has also been authorised to allow officers to require an individual to remove a face covering.

Section 60 allows any uniformed constable to stop pedestrians or those in vehicles and search them and their property for offensive weapons, regardless of whether there are any grounds for suspecting possession of such items. This is what makes Section 60 a suspicionless search.

For this to happen a senior officer (those who are Superintendent or above) must believe that serious violence has happened in an area, or is about to happen, before they agree to this power being put in place.

It’s called a Section 60, or S60, because it is allowed under Section 60 and Section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

This does not mean people will be stopped indiscriminately and officers will still follow usual stop and search processes including:

If you have any information on violence or knife crime, contact us on Live Chat on our website www.staffordshire.police.uk 

In an emergency, dial 999.